Pliny and Tacitus the great Historian. The most learned and accomplished men flourished with him— Tacitus, Suetonius, Martial; and with them all, he was in constant correspondence. He died, it is said, about A.D. 113, in the 52d year of his age; but of this, nothing is known with certainty. Pliny was small in stature, and of a weak constitution in allusion to this, Trajan, in one of his letters (x. 29), calls him corpusculum. Of his numerous Orations, he published several; but of all his works, none remain, except the Panegyric on Trajan; and ten Books of Letters, which he himself collected for publication, and which were written probably (for they are each without date) between A. D. 84 and 102. EPISTOLÆ PLINII SECUNDI SELECTÆ. I. (LIB. I. 3.) Writing to Caninius, who was at his Villa at Comum, he recommends him to aim at immortality, by the performance of some great literary work. C. PLINIUS CANINIO RUFO SUO, S. QUID agit Comum', tuæ meæque delicia2? quid suburbanum3 amœnissimum? quid illa porticus, verna1 semper? quid aτavov opacissimus? quid Euripus viridis et gemmeus? quid subjectus et serviens lacus'? quid illa 5 Comum, the birth-place of Pliny and Caninius. It was situated in the beautiful valley on the banks of the Larius Lacus (Lago de Como), and first rose into repute as a Roman colony under the auspices and protection of Julius Cæsar. In the modern town of the same name, the Villa Pliniana' is still shewn, but it does not correspond with Pliny's description. 2 Delicia.-Different forms of the same word are, delicia, delicium; and the diminutives, deliciola, deliciolum: derived from delicio. 3 Suburbanum-understand prædium,villa.' 4 Verna semper 'Ever vernal;' i. e. of the genial temperature of spring. 5 Πλατανὼν a planegrove,' platanetum; so, Aapγών, a laurel-grove,' laure 12 mollis, et tamen solida, gestatio? quid balneum illud, quod plurimus sol implet et circumit? quid triclinia illa popularia? quid illa paucorum? quid popinæ ? quid cubicula diurna" nocturnaque? Possidentne te, et per vices partiuntur? An, ut solebas, intentione rei familiaris obeundæ, crebris excursionibus avocaris? Si te possident, felix beatusque es: sin minùs, unus ex multis 12. Quin tu (tempus est enim) humiles et sordidas curas aliis mandas; et ipse te in alto isto pinguique secessu studiis adseris. Hoc sit negotium tuum, hoc otium; hic labor, hæc quies: in his vigilia, in his etiam somnus reponatur. Effinge aliquid et excude, quod sit perpetuò tuum 14. Nam reliqua rerum tuarum post te alium atque alium dominum sortientur 15: hoc nunquam tuam desinet con 8 Mollis et solida gestatio.The opulent Romans structed, within their gardens, ambulationes and gestationes. The former were applied to the purposes of pedestrian exercise; the latter, to riding and driving. Compare V. 6. Ambit hunc ambulatio pressis varièque tontis viridibus inclusa: ab his gestatio in modum circi &c. It will be observed, that gestatio, properly signifying 'exercise,' is applied to the place where exercise is taken.' So lavatio is used by Phædrus, Lavationem argenteam. Mollis solida seems to designate the easy yet firm and unyielding' structure of the ground. 9 Balnea.- Some editions exhibit balinea. It may be observed, that balneum, balineum, balnea, balineæ, balneolum, balneola, are different forms of the same word. 10 Triclinia illa popularia'those public saloons.' The ' triclinium' was properly the coach that supported three 13 guests at supper. It is here, by a metonymy, put for the saloon. 11 Diurna nocturnaque. · Some editions have diurna, nocturna; perhaps a more spirited reading. For an account of the internal arrangement of the Roman houses, consult Gell's Pompeii. 12 Unus ex multis-corresponding to the Greek expression οὗτός ἐστιν ἐν πολλοῖς, i. e. 'ignoble.' Compare Horace, Ep. 1. 2. 27. Nos numerus sumus. 12 Alto isto pinguique secessu. -Translate pingue 6 tranquil.' Compare VII. 27. Mollis et pinguis vita. IX. 3. Pingue illud altumque otium. 14 Perpetuò tuum. Compare Thucyd. 1. 22. Κτημά τε ἐς ἀεί· μᾶλλον, ἢ ἀγώνισμα ἐς τὸ παραχρῆμα ἀκούειν, ξύγκειται. 15 Post te sortientur.-Compare Hor. Sat. 11. 2.129. Nam propriæ telluris herum na- esse, si semel cœperit. Scio quem animum, quod horter ingenium: tu modo enitere ut tibi ipse sis tanti 16, quanti videberis aliis, si tibi fueris. 16 Ut tibi ipse sis tanti.Compare Cic. Ep. ad Quint. Frat. 111. 6. Cessator esse noli; et illud γνῶθι σεαυτὸν noli putare ad arrogantiam minuen Vale. dam solum esse dictum, verum etiam ut bona nostra norimus. Also Hor. Ep. 1. 16. 19. Ne cuivis de te plus quàm tibi credas. II. (LIB. I. 6.) He assures Tacitus, in a strain of pleasing humour, that he can unite the pleasures of the Chace and of Literature with great advantage. C. PLIN. CORNELIO TACITO SUO, S. RIDEBIS; et licet rideas. Ego ille', quem nôsti, apros tres, et quidem pulcherrimos, cepi. Ipse? inquis. Ipse": non tamen ut omnino ab inertiâ3 meâ et quiete discederem. Ad retia sedebam: erant in proximo, non venabulum aut lancea, sed stylus et pugillares". Meditabar aliquid enotabamque, ut si manus vacuas, plenas tamen ceras reportarem. Non est quòd contemnas hoc studendi genus. Mirum est, ut animus 1 Ego ille, quem.--The formula used by the Poets is, Ille ego, quem as in Statius, Silv. V. 3. 10. Ille ego, magnanimum qui facta attollere regum, &c. See Markland, in loco. 2 Ipse-understand venatus sum. 3 Inertia meâ –‘my stu dies.' Compare Sallust. Jug. chap. IV. (page 4, Eng. Ed.) -qui-labori meo nomen inertiæ imponant. 4 Lancea. According to Gellius, this word is of Spa 6 |